July 24, 2012

Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of July 23

by Kevin Goldstein

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Nick Turley, LHP, Yankees (High-A Tampa): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K

It's rare for a 50^th-round pick to be a prospect, but Turley is just that. Seen as unsignable in 2008, the Yankees took a flyer on him with their final pick and landed him with a $150,000 bonus.
A huge left-hander at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, Turley is actually more of a finesse pitcher who pounds the strike zone with three solid average pitches in his 88-92 mph fastball, curve and changeup. It's not the sexiest package, but it's led to a 2.69 ERA with 89 strikeouts over 80.1 innings so far in the Florida State League, and if he can do something like that next year at Double-A, he's suddenly a very real prospect.

Others Of Note:

• Gioskar Amaya, 2B, Cubs (Short-season Boise): 3-for-4, RBI, R, 2 SB, CS. 19-yera-old Venezuela has hitting ability and speed; .326/.401/.543 but has to keep it up as right-side only defender.
• Archie Bradley, RHP, Diamondbacks (Low-A South Bend): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Best start since mid-May as he still dominates when he throws strikes; 3.65 ERA with 96 Ks in 98.2 innings.
• Jackie Bradley, OF, Red Sox (Double-A Portland): 1-for-3, HR (3), R, RBI, 3 BB, SB. Still a ton of walks and showing a bit more power as season goes on; .302/.395/.481 in 33 games since promotion.
• David Dahl, OF, Rockies (Rookie-level Grand Junction): 3-for-5, R, 2 RBI. First-round pick is among league's hottest hitters; 14-for-29 during seven-game hitting streak and up to .353/.409/.563 overall.
• Joey Gallo, 3B, Rangers (Rookie-level AZL Rangers): 2-for-4, 2B, HR (12), 3 R, 3 RBI, BB, K. The best secondary skills in the complex league with 12 home runs and 25 walks against 89 at-bats; .337/.483/.854 in 26 games.
• Danny Hultzen, LHP, Mariners (Triple-A Tacoma): 4 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 5 K. The command issues return after an encouraging start; 35 Ks in 27 Triple-A innings but also 31 hits allowed and 21 walks.
• Brandon Jacobs, OF, Red Sox (High-A Salem): 3-for-5, 2B, HR (9), R, RBI, K. Starting to heat up with 901 OPS in 18 July games; .284/.340/.444 overall.
• Michael Main, OF, Marlins (Short-season Jamestown): 4-for-4, 2B, HR (1), 2 R, 7 RBI, BB, CS. 2007 first-round pick by the Rangers continuing his come back as position player; .381/.435/.619 in six NYP games.
• Wil Myers, OF, Royals (Triple-A Omaha): 2-for-4, HR (16), R, 2 RBI, K. Breaks out of 3-for-30 slump; .295/.378/.595 in 59 games.
• Mike Olt, 3B, Rangers (Double-A Frisco): 2-for-4, HR (26), R, 3 RBI, BB, K. On another power streak with four home runs in last seven games; .291/.402/.588 overall.
• Gregory Polanco, OF, Pirates (Low-A West Virginia): Tools-laded breakout plaer is 11-for-19 in last six games and up to .329/.387/.526 overall; 20-year-old has taken among the largest steps forward in the minors.
• Colin Rodgers, LHP, Royals (Rookie-level Burlington): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K. Third-round pick is smallish lefty with decent stuff and tons of polish; 0.73 ERA with nine hits allowed 24.2 innings.
• Jesus Solorzano, OF, Marlins (Short-season Jamestown): 2-for-5, 2 HR (5), 2 R, 4 RBI, K. 20-year-old Venezuelan has speed, power potential and tons of swing-and-miss; .250/.293/.422 in 31 games.
• Dan Straily, RHP, Athletics (Triple-A Sacramento): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K. Whispers of an impending call-up are starting to circulate; 0.96 ERA with 47 IP, 20 H, 14 BB, 63 K since promotion to Triple-A.
• Keenyn Walker, OF, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem): 2-for-4, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB, 3 SB. Top pick for White Sox in 2011 has shown good approach, lots of speed and too many whiffs; .304/.385/.522 in six games since promotion.
• Christian Yelich, OF, Marlins (High-A Jupiter): 3-for-6, 2B, 2 R, RBI, BB, 2 K. Doubles in five consecutive games as part of 10-for-22 streak; .312/.389/.538 in 70 games.  

Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
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